September 1, 2024 | 12:00am
MANILA, Philippines — The Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT) is now in a quandary, as the budget it received for the free WiFi program in 2025 is good for only five months.
In a presentation during the House committee on appropriation’s hearing on DICT’s proposed P10.4-billion budget next year, Secretary Ivan John Uy said the budget allocation for the free WiFi program is only P2.5 billion.
“Our free WiFi program has reached 13,462 access points as of June 2024. And it caters to over 10 million unique users, prioritizing the GIDA (geographically isolated and disadvantaged) areas,” he noted.
Uy added this “initiative is crucial in ensuring that even the most remote and underserved communities have access to the internet, fostering greater inclusivity and bridging the digital divide.”
However, he told the panel there are 13,462 free WiFi sites in public places and state universities and colleges being “maintained and operated” by the DICT.
Uy underscored the P2.5 billion earmarked for the program can “cover subscription for five months only.”
In her interpellation, BH party list Rep. Bernadette Herrera has expressed concerns over this development, being one of the authors of Republic Act 10929 or the Free Internet Access in Public Places Act.
Upon Herrera’s questioning, DICT Undersecretary for Infostructure Management, Cybersecurity and Upskilling Jeff Ian Dy said on top of the P2.5 billion, they received some P3.6 billion in special allotment release order from the Department of Budget and Management and Congress.
“The P3.6 billion right now, which was given to us, is enough so that we can maintain until the end of the year, plus approximately a few more months, like two more months of 2025. Without additional funding, we’ll be disconnected,” he added.
But Dy underscored that they could not let the program stop because it is mandated by law.
He said the DICT will “try to find” other resources to sustain the program, such us borrowing subscription from telecommunication companies as they have been doing in the past.
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